Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said “poverty and resultant malnutrition” in tribal areas can be eradicated only by increasing job opportunities for villagers.

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Fadnavis met a delegation, led by NGO Shramajivi Sanghatana, at his official residence ‘Varsha’ in Mumbai, over the issue of malnutrition in Palghar district.

The delegation submitted a 17-page memorandum to the Chief Minister in which it suggested different measures to tackle the issue.

Fadnavis told PTI that very soon the connectivity to tribal villages in Palghar district would be improved using fibre-optic cables, which will help the state government to provide better services on all fronts.

“Poverty and resultant malnutrition in the tribal areas can be eradicated only by increasing job opportunities for villagers,” said the Chief Minister.

The NGO in a release claimed that Fadnavis in-principle accepted their suggestions and directed its chief Vivek Pandit to prepare a detail action plan for employment opportunities in the villages.

Pandit claimed the present measures being undertaken by the Maharashtra government were of temporary nature and a permanent solution was needed to end malnutrition.

“This is possible only by providing employment to the villagers. The root cause of malnutrition is poverty,” he said.